JoVE - Journal of Visualized Experiments
JoVE Visualize
Contact Us

Comparison of Long-term Oncological Outcome of Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping Methods (Dye-Only versus Dye and Radioisotope) in Breast Cancer Patients Following Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy

  • 0Department of Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Cancer Research and Treatment +

|

April 17, 2025

|

April 17, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

The dye-only (DYE) sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) method shows similar long-term oncological outcomes to the dye and isotope (DUAL) method in breast cancer patients after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT). DYE SLNB is a safe and effective option.

Area Of Science

  • Oncology
  • Surgical Pathology
  • Breast Cancer Research

Background

  • Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is crucial for breast cancer staging.
  • The dye and isotope (DUAL) method is often preferred over dye-only (DYE) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) due to concerns about false-negative rates.
  • Long-term oncological outcomes comparing DYE and DUAL SLNB after NCT are not well-established.

Purpose Of The Study

  • To compare the long-term oncological outcomes of DYE versus DUAL SLNB methods in breast cancer patients who received NCT.
  • To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the DYE SLNB method in this patient population.

Main Methods

  • Retrospective cohort study including 893 patients who underwent SLNB after NCT with pathologically negative lymph nodes.
  • Propensity score matching was used to create comparable groups: 280 patients in the DYE group and 560 in the DUAL group.
  • Dye-only (Indigo carmine) and dye and isotope (Tc-99m antimony trisulfate) mapping techniques were employed.

Main Results

  • Median follow-up was 75.6 months (DYE) and 83.0 months (DUAL).
  • No significant differences were observed in five-year distant metastasis-free survival, disease-free survival, or overall survival between the DYE and DUAL groups.
  • Axillary recurrence rates were comparable between the two methods (1.8% DYE vs. 2.5% DUAL).

Conclusions

  • Long-term oncological outcomes are not significantly different between DYE and DUAL SLNB methods following NCT.
  • The dye-only SLNB method is a safe and effective option for breast cancer patients who have received neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
  • This finding supports the continued use of the DYE method, potentially simplifying surgical procedures.

Keywords: